The Transmitters (band)
| The Transmitters | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ealing, London, England |
| Genres | Post-punk, jazz fusion, art punk, psychedelic rock |
| Years active | 1977–1988 2007–present? |
| Labels | Ebony (1978–1979) Step-Forward (1979–1980) Heartbeat (1981–1988) 9CC/Craving Co (1989) You Are Not Stealing (2006) Elsewhere (2007–present) |
| Associated acts |
Loop Guru Furniture Glaxo Babies Transglobal Underground Slipper Thaw Loungeclash Presumed Dead Flavel Bambi Sextet |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | Dave Baby Rob Chapman Jim Chase Vince Cutcliffe Amanda de Grey Sam Dodson John Guillani Hamilton Lee Mikel Lee Christopher McHallem James McQueen Dave Muddyman Mark Perry John Quinn Bob Sargeant Joe Sax Julian Treasure Steve Walsh Simon “Sid” Wells Tim Whelan John Woodley |
The Transmitters were a British art rock/post-punk band active during the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. Mixing elements of punk, jazz and psychedelia, the band were critical favourites throughout their lifetime and played support slots for a wide variety of underground and mainstream bands, although this did not translate into substantial commercial success.
The Transmitters are also notable for featuring future members of Loop Guru and Transglobal Underground and for sharing two members with cult pop band Furniture, as well as a guest stint by Glaxo Babies vocalist Rob Chapman. Their sound was compared to (among others) The Fall, XTC, Gang of Four, This Heat and Magazine.
(This band should not be confused with the other British indie band called The Transmitters, who are a more conventional indie rock band with an entirely different lineup, and were formed in 2006.)
The band formed in Ealing, West London in 1977. The original lineup was John Quinn (vocals – also known as “John Clegg”, “John Grimes” or “John X”), Sam Dodson (guitar, aka “Sam Dodds”), Simon “Sid” Wells (bass), Amanda de Grey (keyboards), Jim Chase (drums) and Dexter O'Brian (lyrics - real name Christopher McHallem). Guitarists Steve Walsh (Manicured Noise) and John Guillani (from O'Brian's other band The Decorators) also stood in as live members at various times.
The band’s debut single was "Party", released on Ebony Records in 1978. This was followed in the same year by the album 24 Hours.
On 29 December 1978, the band played a concert at the Electric Ballroom, Camden, supporting The Police. On 15 February 1979, they supported an early lineup of The Human League at the Nashville Rooms, West London. (Other bands played with during this period include Scritti Politti, The Birthday Party, Dolly Mixture, The Slits, Alternative TV, The Fall and Blurt.)
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